YAANG: Tracks That Shaped Our Sound

Manchester synth-punks YAANG are back with a sonic gut-punch in the form of their debut EP No. Fusing the relentless pulse of German Motorik, the sleek edge of French electro, and the raw energy of post-punk disco, the band’s latest work is their boldest yet. Produced by Beck Clewlow (Formal Sppeedwear) and backed by tastemakers like NME, The Line of Best Fit, and BBC Radio 6 Music, No cements YAANG’s reputation as one of the UK’s most electrifying new acts. We spoke to them about the tracks that shaped their sound, enjoy!

We Are Sex Bob-Omb by Sex Bob-Omb 

Ben White: This song is the reason I started playing bass and the reason my bass sounds the way it does.

Hero by Neu!

Oliver Duffy: Neu blew our minds the first time we heard them. We covered this song with Formal Sppeedwear a while back, the motorik beat forms the basis for most of the stuff we’ve written since then.

Troglodyte by Viagra Boys

Davey Moore: I try my hardest not to have influences but Viagra Boys are inescapable for me. All the messy, punchy stuff they do translates through our transition from dance band to whatever band.

Alex Chilton by The Replacements

Oliver Duffy: Paul Westerberg is my favourite songwriter of all time, he influences everything I do in some way or another. The Replacements changed everything for me.

Fuck The Pain Away by Peaches

Ben White: we’ve played this song on and off for a long time, it shares a lot of the same DNA as the stuff we write, we’re happy to make stuff that sounds even just a little bit like this.